Two programs approved at the 2023 LWVWA Convention are seeking interested League members from around the state to volunteer. You can view the proposals for these programs in the 2023 Convention Workbook.

Immigration and Immigrant Integration

The first program is “Immigration and Immigrant Integration," a study addressing an important aspect of immigration policy—that is, what happens to immigrants after they come to the United States. Approximately 29% of Washington residents are immigrants or first-generation U.S. citizens. The study provides an opportunity to delve more deeply into legislative options at the state level for enhancing the lives of immigrants and the role the League could be playing in ensuring immigrants have pathways to economic, social, and civic integration in their communities.

The Study committee is seeking volunteers who have an interest in this issue, and would particularly like to have representation from LWVWA members in Eastern Washington.  For more information, contact Committee Chair Susan Martin.

Multi-Member Districts with Ranked Choice Voting

The second program is "Multi-Member Districts with Ranked Choice Voting," an educational project about current implementation of multi-member districts, such as the uses in Albany CA town council, Cambridge MA town council, Portland OR City Council (in progress) and the Washington State House of Representatives. In 1967, during the Civil Rights Era, Congress passed a law forbidding multi-member districts because they could be used to deny representation to minorities. Recently, jurisdictions have adopted multi-member districts to expressly give representation to minorities.  How does this work? What has changed? The League's guidelines will be used to plan an accurate, balanced, and credited project.